The Eagles And The Kestrels - Smash Hits From....The Eagles And The Kestrels (@320)

 

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The Eagles And The Kestrels - Smash Hits From....The Eagles And The Kestrels

AllMusic Review by Bruce Eder.

This double CD, one disc given over to the Eagles and the other to the Kestrels, comprises every track ever recorded by the Bristol instrumental outfit the Eagles. It's all crisp, sub-Shadows material, beautifully showcasing Terry Clarke's lead guitar and a sound and a touch on their instruments that was perhaps even a bit more elegant than that of the Shadows. The highlights are many, including the one vocal track with which they were ever associated, "Some People," featuring vocalist Valerie Mountain and a delightful ocarina accompaniment to the band; their loony, loopy "March of the Eagles" (a reworking of the Champs' "Double Eagle Rock," which could almost pass for the work of those northern European instrumental nut cases the Spotnicks); the Morricone-like "The Desperados"; and their restrained and elegant guitar rendition of "Exodus -- Main Theme." Some of the later tracks of note include their version of "Pipeline" and "Wishin' and Hopin'." The sound is excellent, several degrees sharper and closer than that on 1986's Smash Hits: March of the Eagles, and the notes are a delight, not only giving full details on the band's history but also evoking their time -- and the golden age of British instrumental rock & roll -- in loving and vivid detail.

Tracklist:

CD 1:

1. The Eagles - Bristol Express

2. The Eagles - Johnny's Tune

3. The Eagles - Some People

4. The Eagles - Exodus

5. The Eagles - March of the Eagles

6. The Eagles - Desperados

7. The Eagles - Special Agent

8. The Eagles - Old Ned

9. The Eagles - Maigret

10. The Eagles - Happy Joe

11. The Eagles - Oliver Twist

12. The Eagles - Come on Baby

13. The Eagles - Theme from "Station Six Sahara"

14. The Eagles - Dance On

15. The Eagles - Lonely Bull

16. The Eagles - Hava Nagila

17. The Eagles - Suki Yaki

18. The Eagles - Desafinado

19. The Eagles - Telstar

20. The Eagles - Scarlett O'Hara

21. The Eagles - Stranger on the Shore

22. The Eagles - Al di La

23. The Eagles - Pipeline

24. The Eagles - John Peel

25. The Eagles - Post Horn Gallop

26. The Eagles - Rocking Rocker

27. The Eagles - Andorra

28. The Eagles - Moonstruck

29. The Eagles - Write Me a Letter

30. The Eagles - Wishin' and Hopin'

  CD 2:

 1. The Kestrels - In the Chapel in the Moonlight

2. The Kestrels - There Comes a Time

3. The Kestrels - I Can't Say Goodbye

4. The Kestrels - We Were Wrong

5. The Kestrels - Wolverton Mountain

6. The Kestrels - Little Sacka Sugar

7. The Kestrels - Don't Want to Cry

8. The Kestrels - Love Me with All Your Heart

9. The Kestrels - Walk Right In

10. The Kestrels - Moving Up the King's Highway

11. The Kestrels - There's a Place

12. The Kestrels - Little Star

13. The Kestrels - Sherry

14. The Kestrels - Speedy Gonzales

15. The Kestrels - Will You Love Me Tomorrow

16. The Kestrels - Michael, Row the Boat Ashore

17. The Kestrels - Rhythm of the Rain

18. The Kestrels - Please, Please Me

19. The Kestrels - Island of Dreams

20. The Kestrels - Walk Like a Man

21. The Kestrels - When I Fall in Love

22. The Kestrels - Lazy River

23. The Kestrels - Dance with Me

24. The Kestrels - I Want You

25. The Kestrels - Don't Take the Stars

26. The Kestrels - This Train

27. The Kestrels - Noah Found Grace in the Eyes of the Lord

28. The Kestrels - Good News, Chariot's A-Comin'

29. The Kestrels - Keep on the Sunny Side

30. The Eagles - Pick a Bale of Cotton

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